Category: Warhorses & Arabians

All the Devine High School Best Sports Coverage!

Warhorses rein in Mustangs 62-6

Varsity Warhorse #56 Andrew Padilla recovered the fumble and took it to the house during Devine’s win over Natalia. Behind him celebrating are #17 Sergio DeLeon, #20 Brayden Mann, #16 Blaze Deshotel, #9 Alejandro Ramirez. Photo by Brigid Howard.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
If there was any question whether the Warhorses remembered what happened the last time Natalia came to town, it was answered almost immediately Friday night. Devine scored on its first offensive snap, added three more touchdowns before the first quarter ended, and never let its foot off the gas pedal, rolling to a convincing 62-6 victory over the visiting Mustangs in a District 14-3A Division I showdown at Warhorse Stadium.
The victory came one year after Natalia escaped Devine with a thrilling 27-24 win. This time, however, Devine left little doubt. The Warhorses piled up 509 yards of total offense, including 296 rushing and 224 passing, while a swarming Devine defense limited Natalia to just 109 total yards including only 26 on the ground. And it all started before Devine’s offense ever took the field.
Natalia won the coin toss and elected to receive, but a little Mustang miscommunication quickly turned into a huge break for the Warhorses. Duke Wheeler and Logan Alexander raced to a bouncing kickoff, with Wheeler barreling into the returner to prevent him from securing the ball before Alexander pounced on the loose ball. Devine took over just 24 yards from the end zone with no time coming off the clock.
Offensive Coordinator Devyn Orta wasted no time taking advantage. Quarterback Nate Valle lofted a post-route throw to Brody Lane, who hauled in the 24-yard touchdown pass with 11:50 remaining in the first quarter. Israel Casas added the extra point, and Devine led 7-0 before many fans’ Frito Pies had time to cool off. “Those two first big plays certainly lit the stadium and our sideline on fire,” Devine Head Coach Jacob Campsey said. “Duke came put a big hit on the guy on kickoff and Logan, who seems to be Johnny-on-the-spot especially on special teams, recovered it. The next play Nate finding Brody settled us in very quickly to the game.”
Natalia managed a first down on its next possession, but the drive quickly became another Warhorse scoring opportunity. Wheeler blitzed from the defensive right side and forced a blindside fumble that Andres Padilla recovered. Four plays later, Enoch Hall powered into the end zone from 16 yards out, making it…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $42 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

Warhorses, Mustangs collide in District 14-3A showdown; Kickoff at 7pm

Varsity Warhorse #23 Logan Alexander(bottom) with the touchdown as #74 Logan Duncan peels the defender off him. Photo by Brigid Howard.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
Devine and Natalia both enter Friday night 1-0 in district play and if the opening week of District 14-3A DI play was any indication, this showdown in Warhorse Stadium should come with plenty of fireworks. Although both are beginning district with identical records they arrived there in dramatically different fashions.
The Warhorses opened district play by taking a 62-0 victory over Crystal City and pitching a shutout while turning the scoreboard into a very one-sided affair. Natalia, meanwhile, engaged in a much different kind of offensive fireworks display, outlasting Lytle 60-43 in a game that saw the Mustangs erupt for 38 points in the second half including 24 points in the fourth quarter alone.
And while 60 points would normally be enough to dominate the headlines, Natalia’s offensive production went well beyond the scoreboard as Mustang quarterback Leo Cortinas (#1) carried the ball 39 times for a staggering 468 yards and seven touchdowns as Natalia piled up 687 total yards against the Pirates. Cortinas earned San Antonio Express News Offensive Player of the Week for his Legacy Bowl performance against Lytle.
For Devine Head Coach Jacob Campsey, slowing the Mustang attack starts with slowing down the player at the center of it. “It all starts and ends with their QB who does a phenomenal job operating their offense and is a really good leader and competitor,” Campsey said. “We have to make sure he doesn’t beat us in the run game first and foremost.”
That will be easier said than done as Campsey noted that Natalia does an excellent job creating opportunities for Cortinas in the running game, meaning the Warhorse defense will have to…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $42 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

5-0 DHS Tennis plays for District Championship Sept. 23 at Uvalde

Varsity Warhorse Billy Shuler won his singles matchup at the Crystal City matchup where Devine dominated. Photo by Mandy Geries.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
The time is now for DHS Team Tennis to secure the first of what is hopefully many district championships over the course of the school year for the Warhorses and Arabians. Devine travels to Uvalde for their most important match to date as two undefeated teams fight for a single championship plaque.
Head Coach Kandi Darnell has her team rolling in district play as they sit 5-0 in the district standings after crushing Crystal City 14-5 a week ago. Devine plays Uvalde then finishes off conference play with a match against Pleasanton on September 30.
The tough nonconference matches have served the Arabians and Warhorses well, with another tough one against…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $42 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

DHS Cross Country teams place 4th in Gonzales

Senior Warhorse Shawn Lowe came in 13th at the Gonzales Invitational.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
The Devine High School Cross Country teams made the trek to Gonzales to compete in their invitational on September 19. Both teams had nice showings and now head to Dilley on September 26 as district is just around the corner on October 14 at Carrizo Springs.
The Warhorses placed 4th with 84 points. Randolph was the team champ with 41 points followed by Gonzales with 52 and Long Creek with 64. Lockhart was a very distant fifth place with 170 points.
Zach Guerra led the way for the Warhorses as he finished 5th out of 107 runners. Guerra ran his 5k in 16:32,86. Shawn Lowe and Urijah Velasquez were also top 15 runners with Lowe coming in 13th (17:19.31) and Velasquez next at 14th place (17:25.85). Jesus Cisneros (25th-17:50.32), Rafael Rodriguez (32nd-18:31.64), Jake Riou (50th-19:28.27), Caleb Maxwell (60th-19:57.16), Carlos Jimenez (622nd-20:05.87) rounded out Devine’s squad.
The Arabians placed 4th overall with 122 points to outdistance themselves from fifth place Shiner who tallied 146 points. Gonzales was the team champion with 27 points followed by St. Joseph with 61 and Port Lavaca Calhoun with 78.
Claire Jones placed 15th individually out of 78 in competition. Jones finished with a time of 14:02.61. Allison Balencia barely missed the…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $42 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

Arabian volleyball unblemished in district, 4-0

Varsity Arabian Kaylee Rodriguez goes for the block on the spiker. In their win over Southside, Rodriguez put up 2 kills and 2 assists. Photo by Moose Lopez.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
The Arabians are starting to find their rhythm as we get into the full swing of district play. We’re doing a lot of great things on the court and continuing to improve each game, especially when it comes to communication and teamwork which are two things that make a huge difference as we compete at this level.
“We’re still working to clean up the small things, because those little details can make a BIG difference and become game-changers during the biggest moments of a set,” Head Coach Samantha Mendez stated.
Devine’s tough preseason schedule is paving the way for district success, and hopefully, even more success when the state playoffs come to fruition.
“I am proud of the growth, the fight, and the way this team continues to come together. We’ll keep working, improving, and finding our rhythm!”
The Arabians dominated the Cowgirls in straight sets 25-20, 25-15, 25-14 to run their record to a perfect…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $42 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!


Horses hog-wash Javelinas 62-0 to open district 1-0

Varsity Warhorse #44 Duke Wheeler had an amazing game keeping Crystal City’s offense on their toes. Photo by Brigid Howard.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
Devine traveled to the Spinach Capital of the World last Friday night and left with a District14-3A opening victory that was anything but green around the gills for Warhorse Nation. The spinach-supply around Javelina-town was in low supply as the Horses rode past the Crystal City 62-0 in emphatic fashion, dominating all three phases while piling up 459 yards of total offense and limiting the hosts to just 48 yards and three first downs on their own home field.
For Devine head coach Jacob Campsey, however, the biggest takeaway was not simply the lopsided score or spinach-shortage. “Once we stopped shooting ourselves in the foot early I certainly felt as though each side of the ball and each teammate fed off each other,” Campsey said. “Once we got up multiple scores in the second quarter I felt like we stopped pressing a bit and just played to the standard we are cultivating.”
That transformation was evident after a relatively quiet opening quarter. Devine managed just one score in the first, with Logan Alexander finding the end zone on a 3-yard run. The Warhorses missed their first point attempt of the season after opening 11 for 11, but the defense had already established the tone, holding Crystal City without much production their first couple of possessions.
Then the flood gates opened. Devine erupted for 35 points in the second quarter to turn a 6-0 game into a 41-0 halftime advantage. Quarterback Brayden Mann connected with Brody Lane on an 18-yard touchdown pass to get the second-quarter scoring started. Enoch Hall followed with a 4-yard touchdown run, and Nate Valle then broke loose for a 68-yard scoring jaunt.
Valle and Lane produced one of the game’s most spectacular plays to set up Hall’s 5-yard touchdown, his second of the game. With the ball on the Devine 12-yard line, Valle launched a deep ball up the left side that Lane snagged around midfield before securing it then dragging an overmatched Javelina defender all the way to…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $42 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

Leaving a new Legacy in Warhorse football

Recipients of the Legacy Award so far: #78 Aiden Martinez, #80 Jett Toner, #5 Brody Lane. All of these Warhorses have displayed heart, compassion and resilience, regardless of what their stats were. They truly are, living like coach Sanchez.

Matthew “Moose” Lopez
Sports Editor
Warhorse football has been off to a hot start this season. New head coach, new offensive system and new play callers have rejuvenated this Devine squad. However, that’s not the only new addition to the team. A new tradition has taken shape in honor of the late great coach Jacob Sanchez.
Sanchez was just 35 years old when he passed on January 5, 2023. He was a beloved member the community, father, husband, brother, son, teacher and coach.. He was also a Warhorse himself, wearing number 75 for varsity. He taught 6th and 8th grade science and coached football, basketball, and track in field for DMS, so many of his former students/athletes are still playing in Devine athletics today.
Brigid Howard, part-time sub and photographer for Devine ISD, took it upon herself to commemorate Sanchez with the Legacy Award. An honor bestowed upon a different Warhorse every week, not just for their play on the field, but for being the kind of teammate and the kind of young man people remember.
This award is meant to exemplify Sanchez’s values and by the end of the season the goal is to have the boys understand that earning it speaks to their caliber of character not just their success as an athlete.
“Maybe he helps a teammate up. Maybe he encourages someone after a bad play. Maybe he keeps fighting when the game gets tough,” Howard explained. “It doesn’t have to be the kid who scores the touchdown or gets his name called.”
This year’s crop of Horses consists of the last two teams Sanchez had coached. Howard’s son, varsity center Canton Urrabazo, was coached by Sanchez in middle school. He meant a lot to the senior linemen, which speaks to how much of a lasting impression Sanchez’s teachings made on his students and players.
“Coach Sanchez was so much more than a football coach,” Howard said. “He was known for supporting the underdog, making everyone feel welcome, and believing in kids who sometimes just needed someone to believe in them.”
Every game Howard selects a mom in the crowd to watch closely for the player that shows extraordinary effort, valor, heart and character on the field. The only rule being, she cannot select her own son.
After the game, the player is presented with a gold chain with a #75 jersey, Sanchez’s number in high school, to highlight the moments of sincerity and motivation he displayed throughout the game.
Since his passing, the kids have adopted a saying to honor their late mentor. A saying emboldens what it means to live up to the values that Sanchez set. To play with effort, lead with courage and lift up others. To live like coach Sanchez.

Jacob is #75 in the middle.

Warhorses walk the Bulldogs 23-14

#7 Rowdy Esparza with a quick catch and smooth route into the endzone with QB Nate Valle cheering close behind during Devine’s victory over Marion. Photo by Brigid Howard.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
The Warhorses saved one of their most valuable lessons for their third and final nondistrict game which is adversity does not have to become an avalanche. Devine overcame two separate deficits Friday night before rallying for a 23-14 victory over previously undefeated Marion. The Horses travel to Crystal City to open District 14-3A D1 this Friday.
Devine continually showed the ability to remain composed when things were not going its way, including the Bulldogs scoring first midway through the first quarter on a 64 yard touchdown play that should have ended back in Marion territory soon after the catch was made.
“I really felt like we did a much better job of not riding the emotions of the game from early on,” Devine Head Coach Jacob Campsey said about his players composure being tested early. “We didn’t always play our best but we stayed the course and played complimentary football.”
Devine answered before the quarter ended as quarterback Nate Valle went 9 yards for a touchdown with 41 seconds left, and Israel Casas’ extra point tied the game at 7-7.
The Bulldogs regained the lead when Eli Parker scored on a 10-yard run with 8:39 remaining in the second quarter, but Devine again refused to panic. The Warhorses’ ability to create momentum was evident on a night when Devine also unveiled its first true trick play of the season.
A Valle to Enoch Hall handoff followed by his flip to Rowdy Esparza on a reverse resulted in a game-changing touchdown that tied the game at 14-14.
Campsey credited Offensive Coordinator Coach Devyn Orta for recognizing an opportunity and making the necessary adjustment. “A lot of credit goes to Coach Orta on that play. He had it dialed up for a little different situation but really pivoted there when we needed a big play. Coach Orta liked the look Marion was giving the Warhorses on the backside of the play and believed there would be no defender home, which there wasn’t.”
Devine took their first lead to open the second half as Hall capped the possession with a 3-yard touchdown run at the 8:58 mark. Casas added his third PAT giving Devine its first lead at 21-14.
For Campsey, the response represented a significant step forward from Devine’s earlier nondistrict loss at San Diego that opened the season. “I felt like how we responded to being down now, versus how we did in San Diego where we let things avalanche was a major improvement. Against Marion, we played the…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $42 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

8th Colts take down Marion 20-14

The 8th grade Colts were amped up for their underclassmen’s first official game for Devine ISD. Photo by Moose Lopez.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
The Devine Colts and Marion Bulldogs knew about the other’s accomplishments a year ago when these 8th graders were 7th graders. In 2025, the two teams finished their seventh-grade seasons with identical 8-0 records, with each squad also posting six shutouts along the way, according to Coach Matthew Saenz. With that kind of history, it was no surprise that last Thursday’s meeting turned into another hard-fought battle.
When the dust settled, however, it was the Colts who remained standing, as Devine held off Marion, 20-14. The Colts found several ways to put points on the board, including a big-play 40-yard touchdown connection from quarterback Gabriel Madrid to Easton Montellano. Madrid then added the two-point conversion on a run to give Devine an early spark.
Ezra Gamez found the end zone on a 5-yard touchdown run, while Chaz Dominguez provided another huge play for the Colts with a kickoff return for a touchdown. In fact, Dominguez had another big-play touchdown as he ran the ball in from five yards out.
While the Colts’ offense produced enough points to secure the victory, it was the defense that delivered throughout the game including the knockout punch when it mattered most.
Cooper Stricker and Tilden Moore each came up with interceptions during the contest, helping Devine keep the Bulldogs’ offense from finding the end zone consistently. The biggest defensive play came late in the game as Devine was clinging to a six-point lead. Marion moved the ball to the Colts’ 30-yard line with a chance to potentially tie the game or even take the lead.
“We were up by six points late in the game, and the Bulldogs offense had our defense on our own 30-yard line,” Devine defensive coach Matthew Saenz said. “We stood tall and intercepted a pass on 4th down to essentially end the game.”
Saenz credited his players for maintaining their composure in a pressure-filled situation and battling from start to finish.
“I am so proud of these guys for playing such a hard fought game! Marion deserves credit as well as they tested us big time.”
The victory was a strong early-season statement for the Colts. Devine had more than a few explosive plays offensively, scored via their special teams, and created turnovers defensively that most importantly made the critical play when the game was on the line.
For a group that knows all too well what Marion is capable of, Thursday’s victory was more than just another win. It was another chapter in what is quickly becoming a competitive rivalry between two teams that refuse to give an inch.
Team: Gabriel Madrid, Alonzo Lopez, Cooper Stricker, Paul Cisneros, Eric Montellano, Aayden Rodriguez, Tilden Moore, Kayson Klein, Kyle Pineda Johnson, Samuel Samarripa, Xian Glodobe, Gage Lawler, Ezra Gamez, Leonardo Renteria Castillo, Hunter Hennessey, Bently Martinez, Jayden Knox, Jeremiah Perez, Marceline Garcia IV, Jackson Redding, William Dixon-Davis, John Steffens, Adrian Zamora, Matthew Arausa, Kaysen Holloway, Hunter Gentry, Chaz Dominguez, Easton Hennessey, Gauge Gonzales, Ezra Gutierrez, Jose Guerrero Jr., Julian Ramirez, Jaxson Alexander, Jacob Ramirez, Berjin Caballero, Uzziah Nentwich, Colt Riddle, Jasiah Santos, Jaike Copeland, Jesus Perez III, Roberto Gutierrez, Eli Zadik, Noah Perez, Kolton Wisenbaker, Jacob Silva, Jovani Robles Alvarado, Nathaniel Rodriguez, Paul McClure, Micah-Rayne Guajardo, Blake Perez Cheerleaders: Avery Dixon, Kynzli Carroll, Tenley Carroll, Milee Downing, Kyleigh Freeman, Jayde Hall, Maci Martinez, Ilyanna Burford-Patton Sponsor: Jennifer Toalson.